The U.S. Small Business Administration announced May 14 that it will partner with Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program to provide valuable assistance to veterans careers futures in self-employment.

Assistance will be provided by the SBA, which supports entrepreneurs and small business owners through resources to help their business grow, as well as its resource partners and the U.S. Export Assistance Centers.

Veterans, service-disabled veterans and service members all will have access to networking events, job-seeking skills, coaching and entrepreneurship training under the partnership.

“Both SBA and (Veterans Affairs) provide important resources for veterans and service members to take on the next step in their career – and their civilian lives. Together, we can set them up for success should they decide self-employment is next for them,” said Jack Kammerer, director of the VR&E program.

The two agencies will educate current staff on the services available through the partnership and individual agencies; they also will facilitate national, regional and local referrals for veterans as part of the assistance.

“Veterans are extremely resilient as a result of their time serving in the military,” said Barb Carson, associate administrator, SBA Office of Veterans Business Development. “This is why they are great candidates for self-employment – and why prepping them to take on the venture is of utmost importance. VA’s VR&E program plays such an integral role in veteran business owners’ journeys, so I can’t wait to see the progress we’re able to achieve together.”